PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Apple (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Apple will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

James
vs
Apple

198 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

220 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Apple!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Apple looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Apple tries to clinch there but James circles away.

Apple instigates a clinch.
Apple blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
James working aggressively here.
Apple is stalling here.
James throws a head punch that misses.
Apple has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.
Apple pushes James back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apple lands a shoulder strike.
Apple lands with a short shot to the head.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Apple uses good head movement to avoid it.
James can't get the takedown.
Apple wants to get back to striking at distance but James won't allow it.
Apple digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
Apple holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Apple lands a left hand.

It looks like Matt James has been cut.
Apple manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Apple softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

James is rocked!
Apple lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apple effectively controlling the action here.
Apple continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Matt Apple.
James keeps the fight on the outside.
Apple tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
James avoids a punch combination nicely.
Apple looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Apple misses with the combination.
Apple tries to clinch up.
Apple is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Apple drives through and clinches with James against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Apple lands with a right to the head.
Apple is struggling to control the position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Apple.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Apple.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Matt Apple.
Apple tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Apple is looking to clinch but James is avoiding it.
Apple tries to clinch but James moves out of range.
Apple tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Apple tries to clinch there but James circles away.

Apple gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Apple.
Apple stalls.
A short right from Apple.
Apple stalls.
Apple receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Apple makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
James being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Matt Apple.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Apple.
Apple tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Apple misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apple misses with a few strikes there.
Apple tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Apple is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Apple clinches.
Apple works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Apple scores with a hook to the body.
Come on Apple - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apple lands a hook to the side of the head.
Apple dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Apple wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Apple dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt James's cut.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James swats away the attempt to clinch by Apple.
Matt Apple is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Apple looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Apple moves into the clinch.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Apple stalling in the clinch.
Apple cracks James with a nice body shot.
A shot in the inside from Apple.
Still in the clinch, Apple scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Apple creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short right from Apple on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Apple.
Apple pushes James back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Apple dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Apple.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Apple creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A body shot lands from Apple.
Apple avoiding damage.

Apple pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Apple moves into range and clinches up with James.
A left hand lands to the body for Apple.
Apple lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Apple is stalling here.
Apple scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right handed body shot lands from Apple.
A right hand to the body from Apple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right hand to the body from Apple.
Apple has had enough of the clinch but James keeps him there for the moment.
Apple lands a nice uppercut.
Matt Apple seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
James working aggressively here.
Apple cracks James with a nice body shot.
Apple manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Apple stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
James blocks the elbow strike.
Apple stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries a body shot but Apple blocks it.
A short left from Apple.
Apple stalling the fight.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Matt Apple.
Apple moves in looking to clinch but James pushes him off.
Apple tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Apple ducks down and throws a hook to the body but James moves away.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Apple fails with an attempt to clinch.
Apple swinging wildly here.
Matt Apple seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Apple moves into range and clinches up with James.
Apple lands a nice uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Apple lands a hook to the side of the head.
Apple slows down the pace here.
Nice body punch from Apple.
Apple lands with a right to the head.
Apple dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Apple's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Apple lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Apple wants to break free but James has control.
Apple lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Apple lands a body punch.
A short left from Apple.
Apple dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apple lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
A short right from Apple.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Apple takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Apple lands a left hand.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Apple.
Apple scores with a nice hook to the head.
Apple is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Apple lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Apple lands with a right to the head.
Apple has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A short body shot lands from Apple as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.
Apple is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Matt Apple.
Apple tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apple scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Apple tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but James paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Apple showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt James's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Apple wants to clinch.
James circles away from the clinch attempt.
Apple tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
Apple fails with an attempt to clinch.
Apple tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Apple lands with a big right hook that stumbles James - he's out on his feet here! Apple follows up with another monster hook that separates James from consciousness! James falls, almost in slow motion to the canvas! Apple stands and admires his work as the crowd go wild.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Matt Apple!